head lice

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Just the thought of an infestation of head lice is enough to prompt many people to start scratching their scalps. Unfortunately, head lice is getting [...]

For many people, hearing the word "lice" is enough to make them start itching. Unfortunately, infestations of head lice are common. The Centers for Disease [...]

Stem cell transplantation, also known as bone marrow transplantation, has come a long way since it was first tried in the early part of the [...]

Stem cell transplantation, also known as bone marrow transplantation, has come a long way since it was first tried in the early part of the [...]

Watch today's Mayo Clinic Minute

• We look at why head lice are in the headlines, the results of  a Mayo Clinic study on [...]

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My child’s school has had a lice outbreak for two months. The problem does not seem to be going away. Is it true that some types of lice are resistant to over-the-counter treatments? Are there more potent options to eliminate head lice? ANSWER: Although they are often effective, over-the-counter treatments for head lice don’t work in all cases. Some strains of lice can be resistant to the over-the-counter treatments. If head lice persist despite treatment at home, then it’s time to ask your doctor about prescription medication alternatives. Head lice are tiny, wingless, parasitic insects that live and feed on blood from a person’s scalp. Head lice cause a lot of fear, anxiety and concern. Fortunately, although they are a nuisance, head lice don’t carry any transmissible diseases that are dangerous. Head lice can spread easily. They may go from one person to another through direct contact, or they may be passed through shared items, such as combs, brushes and towels. Head lice tend to stay within about an inch of the scalp, anchoring onto a hair shaft. If you suspect that you or a family member has head lice, the best places to look are behind the ears and along the back of the neck, near the scalp. Lice are very small, about the size of a strawberry seed. Their eggs, or nits, resemble tiny pussy willow buds. Nits can be mistaken for dandruff, but they can’t be easily brushed out of hair.

In this Mayo Clinic Radio Health Minute, Dr. Dawn Davis offers some insight into a common problem this time of year... head lice. To listen, [...]

The word alone can start you scratching.  In this Medical Edge Radio episode, Mayo Clinic Dr. Dawn Davis tells us about head lice. To listen, click [...]